Best free games for PS5, Xbox and Nintendo Switch – from Wuthering Waves to Valorant
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If you’ve found yourself with a new console over Christmas, here’s some games you can try without any damage to your bank account. While game consoles are often bundled with free games, like Wii Sports or Face Raiders on the Nintendo 3DS, there’s now an entire subsection of the industry dedicated to offering experiences which are entirely free.
![[Marvel Rivals screenshot]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_232746031-50ba.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The free-to-play model might represent some of the medium’s worst habits, like egregious microtransactions and other dodgy models of monetisation, but some of them are surprisingly generous in what they offer without having to lay down any cash. So if you’re looking to try out some free games after picking up a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, or Nintendo Switch, we’ve listed some of the best options below. We’ve omitted the usual heavy-hitters, like vanilla Fortnite, Call Of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends, and Genshin Impact, to prioritise games released over recent years, but you probably already knew about those anyway.
![[The Finals gameplay screenshot]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234133277-577f.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
It’s also worth noting that while these games are billed as ‘free’, in most cases you’ll need an online subscription to play them. The lowest tier for PlayStation is PS Plus Essential at £6.99 per month (or cheaper if bought yearly), whereas Xbox offers Game Pass Core for the same price, and Nintendo Switch Online is the cheapest at £3.49 per month.
![[Master Chief in Halo Infinite]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234133273-d3b4.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
If you’re new to the PlayStation 5 console, Astro’s Playroom is the perfect introduction to the system’s capabilities. This is a family-friendly platformer designed to show off the DualSense controller, between the haptic feedback on the triggers and the touchpad.
![[Zenless Zone Zero gameplay]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234133113-c91a.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
